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Church Rejects Donation from Lottery Winner

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Aaron
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Post by Ich bin Ala-awkbarph Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:18 pm

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/topstories/news-article.aspx?storyid=116301&catid=15&GID=WMAmGCQI3vz6rtbfKlq97+DNDNHLKYU0cLrO+wQNI6Q=&provider=email


Church Rejects Donation from Lottery Winner


ORANGE PARK, FL -- After Robert Powell hit the Florida Lottery jackpot last month and took home more than $6 million, he thought of his church.

And he offered to drop his tithe, around $600,000, in the collection plate of First Baptist Orange Park.

But the church and Pastor David Tarkington politely declined and told Powell they will not accept the lottery winnings.


Amen.
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Post by Aaron Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:32 pm

Were I this man, I would donate the money to St. Judes or cancer research. It will be put to good use there.
Aaron
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Post by shermangeneral Thu Aug 14, 2008 4:56 pm

I agree Aaron, except I would give it to the WV Highlands Conservancy....

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Post by shermangeneral Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:02 pm

I think they should reject ill gotten gains.

Such as gambling, prostitution, coal companies, etc.

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Post by darth omar Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:07 pm

I struggle with this. Doesn't the Bible refer to money [all money, presumably] as 'filthy lucre' or some such? In my church we say a blessing over the collection plate before the offering, again, presumably, because it needs to blessed before it is put to God's work.

I'm not seeing where God makes a distinction between monies that have come from lottery winnings over money that, say, came from an SS check that a particular person didn't do anything to earn, for example.

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Post by Aaron Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:08 pm

Church Rejects Donation from Lottery Winner 33948 Church Rejects Donation from Lottery Winner 33948 Church Rejects Donation from Lottery Winner 33948

You do realize that you live off of ill gotten gains from coal, don't you Sherm. That is what paid your toopers salary and now pays your retirement. Are you going to reject that money?
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Post by shermangeneral Thu Aug 14, 2008 5:10 pm

That says a lot about you Aaron.

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Post by SheikBen Fri Aug 15, 2008 8:11 am

darth omar wrote:I struggle with this. Doesn't the Bible refer to money [all money, presumably] as 'filthy lucre' or some such? In my church we say a blessing over the collection plate before the offering, again, presumably, because it needs to blessed before it is put to God's work.

I'm not seeing where God makes a distinction between monies that have come from lottery winnings over money that, say, came from an SS check that a particular person didn't do anything to earn, for example.

hi darth and y'all,

I don't believe that playing the lottery is itself sinful, although I do believe that many sin when they play the lottery, as
the money spent can be going to much better things and playing the lottery is likely based on greed (defnitely sinful). If someone uses it as entertainment to the tune of a buck or two a week, I don't think I can really say it's condemnable.

I am impressed that the church took a stand, but I also wonder if the 600,000 dollars could have been earmarked by the church or by this fellow specifically to some act of mercy like food programs or homeless shelters. Remember Joseph saying that what his brothers meant for evil, God worked out to be good?

With something like 3% of the nation's Christians actually tithing, isn't this guy's willingness to fork over 600,000 dollars noteworthy? I have never played the lottery and believe that Christians can and should make better choices (I'm just not sure it's "sinful.") I also agree with Darth that so much of human activity is corrupted and corruptable that we should always be praying for God to sanctify His offering, because whether our activities are themselves sinful, our hearts are still in perpetual need of forgiveness and grace, whatever we do, wherever we are.

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Post by darth omar Fri Aug 15, 2008 9:42 pm

Well brother, I have to confess that I put several bucks on the Powerball every week...lol. For the price of a fraction of a gallon of gas I can daydream about hitting the jackpot and retiring to the Outer Banks of NC where I can spend my days in pursuit of the elusive redfish instead of trying to keep some surgeon happy.

Of course, the odds of me hitting it are practically nil.

I'm also somewhat fascinated in a geeky sort of way with the probability, thingy. Partly, I think, because of what I've read about probabilities as it relates to evolution and/or the origin of life issues.

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Post by Aaron Sat Aug 16, 2008 9:06 am

What it says Sherman is that I understand, at least is some small way, how the economics of West Virginia work.
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Post by ziggy Sat Aug 16, 2008 11:27 am

............................... at least is some small way .....................................

amen
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Post by SheikBen Sun Aug 17, 2008 11:45 pm

darth omar wrote:Well brother, I have to confess that I put several bucks on the Powerball every week...lol. For the price of a fraction of a gallon of gas I can daydream about hitting the jackpot and retiring to the Outer Banks of NC where I can spend my days in pursuit of the elusive redfish instead of trying to keep some surgeon happy.

Of course, the odds of me hitting it are practically nil.

I'm also somewhat fascinated in a geeky sort of way with the probability, thingy. Partly, I think, because of what I've read about probabilities as it relates to evolution and/or the origin of life issues.

Shocked and appalled! I'm just shocked I tell you! Shocked! OK, not too shocked.

I think it's all about motivations. Enjoy your fun. A lot of people put money they don't have into it. A lot of other people are chasing money and they dream of it more than say, better and higher things. I certainly spend more time fantasizing about having a big bag of money than I do about being a mature and influential Christian.

A gallon's worth of dollars at the powerball? I'm pulling for you (and I think the church is, too:) but I'll stay away. I get all my bad luck for free!

Additionally, I don't believe in chance. That's a chat for another day, though......

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Post by darth omar Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:10 am

SheikBen wrote:
darth omar wrote:Well brother, I have to confess that I put several bucks on the Powerball every week...lol. For the price of a fraction of a gallon of gas I can daydream about hitting the jackpot and retiring to the Outer Banks of NC where I can spend my days in pursuit of the elusive redfish instead of trying to keep some surgeon happy.

Of course, the odds of me hitting it are practically nil.

I'm also somewhat fascinated in a geeky sort of way with the probability, thingy. Partly, I think, because of what I've read about probabilities as it relates to evolution and/or the origin of life issues.

Shocked and appalled! I'm just shocked I tell you! Shocked! OK, not too shocked.

I think it's all about motivations. Enjoy your fun. A lot of people put money they don't have into it. A lot of other people are chasing money and they dream of it more than say, better and higher things. I certainly spend more time fantasizing about having a big bag of money than I do about being a mature and influential Christian.

A gallon's worth of dollars at the powerball? I'm pulling for you (and I think the church is, too:) but I'll stay away. I get all my bad luck for free!

Additionally, I don't believe in chance. That's a chat for another day, though......

Well good brother, neither do I believe in it, in an ultimate sense anyway. Not only is that a chat for another day it's a deep one too!

I play for giggles, I'll never win..lol. The thing that troubles me about it is that many people around here...poor people around here...spend way too much on it.

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Post by Aaron Mon Aug 18, 2008 10:25 am

ziggy wrote:
............................... at least is some small way .....................................

amen

A smart man knows his limitations.
Aaron
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Post by SheikBen Mon Aug 18, 2008 12:36 pm

Well I really believe that the Christian church does itself a disservice when we pay more attention to, say, a lottery winner than we do to our internal divorce rate, or the attrition of youth away from church (and worse, faith), or heretical theology among youth at evangelical churches. Given what Barna indicates young people in evangelical churches are thinking and doing, I should say that the lottery needs to be issue 10,001, if even it is to be an issue at all.

People can play the lottery (or gamble at boats) for fun, with a preset limit that is no higher than a dinner out, and I see no issue other than stewardship (which is the same issue for the people who are eating out). I can't say to what extent being a wise steward includes harmless recreation, if indeed it is harmless. One can go crazy with the topic. Is it ok to have a pepsi? After all, you can have water just the same and give the money to the poor. I am addicted to coffee and hate Starbucks' practices and politics. Am I wrong to enjoy the "wonderdrug?"

I'm still glad the church took a stand (it's refreshing to see churches take risky or controversial stands), but I have to wonder if it could not have directed the man to give his tithe to a homeless shelter or some emergency food program.

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Post by Aaron Mon Aug 18, 2008 2:19 pm

I'm sure there is something the church could directed this man to do that Jesus would have approved of, like give it ALL to the DNC. After all, wasn't supporting a local democrat one of the 3 greatest commandment before Jesus was hijacked by Republicans?

Razz Razz Razz
Aaron
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Post by SheikBen Mon Aug 18, 2008 3:16 pm

Hi Aaron,

As anyone who has ever hijacked Jesus knows, one needs only give 35% of one's income to the DNC, or to be openly gay or living or have lived in the inner city, to be forgiven for mixing religion and politics

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Post by SheikBen Tue Aug 26, 2008 6:29 am

What's the old joke about church donation and wealth?

A man calls the church. "I'd like to speak with your head hog."

The secretary answers: "Our church is led by the right Reverend Robert W. Smith and you will refer to him as such."

The man says: "well, my dad left me a large inheritance and I want to give 10,000 dollars to the church."

The secretary replies: "hold on a second I think I hear the porker coming right now."

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